Indoor unit and refrigeration cycle apparatus

ABSTRACT

An indoor unit includes a case having an opening part on a lower surface thereof when the indoor unit is installed, and a decorative panel having a substantially rectangular air inlet being open to the opening part of the case and being attached to the lower surface of the case. The decorative panel has temporary hanging levers attached to opposed positions shifted to be parallel from midpoints on any opposed two of four sides on edges of the air inlet toward any opposed vertexes. The case has temporary hanging hooks corresponding to the temporary hanging levers on edges of the opening part.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to, for example, an indoor unit of arefrigeration cycle apparatus used in an air-conditioning apparatus.More specifically, the present invention relates to a temporary hangingof a decorative panel disposed at, for example, an air inlet of theindoor unit.

BACKGROUND ART

For example, in a conventional air-conditioning apparatus, for example afour direction cassette type indoor unit has such a structure that adecorative panel covering the lower surface (the surface facing theinside of the room) is attached to an indoor unit body suspended in aspace above a ceiling. It has been proposed that, when the decorativepanel is to be attached to the indoor unit body, the decorative panel istemporarily hung, for example, by hooking two temporary hanging leversdisposed on the edge of an air inlet of the decorative panel on L-shapedtemporary hanging hooks provided on the indoor unit body, and then thedecorative panel is fixed to the indoor unit body with screws (see, forexample, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Utility Application PublicationNo. 62-117428 (FIG. 5)

Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2008-75985 (FIG. 5)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

For example, when a decorative panel is to be attached to an indoor unitbody above a ceiling, the decorative panel is often held by hooking theedges of two sides opposed to each other (opposed sides) of an air inletwith thumbs to stably lift the decorative panel. However, for example,if temporary hanging levers are provided on the same side or twoadjacent sides of the air inlet of the decorative panel and thedecorative panel is to be temporarily hung on a case forming the indoorunit body, the opposed sides of the air inlet cannot be held and thedecorative panel is to be lifted unstably.

An object of the present invention is to provide an indoor unit or thelike in which a decorative panel can be easily temporarily hung.

Solution to Problem

An indoor unit according to the present invention includes a case havingan opening part on a lower surface thereof when the indoor unit isinstalled, and a decorative panel having a rectangular air inlet beingopen to the opening part of the case and being attached to the lowersurface of the case. The decorative panel has temporary hanging leversattached to opposed positions shifted from midpoints on any opposed twoof four sides on edges of the air inlet parallelly toward any opposedvertexes. The case has temporary hanging hooks corresponding to thetemporary hanging levers on edges of the opening part.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the indoor unit of the present invention, the temporaryhanging levers hooked on the temporary hanging hooks of the case totemporarily hang the decorative panel are attached to opposed positionsshifted from midpoints on opposed two sides on edges of the air inlet ofthe decorative panel parallelly toward opposed vertexes. Thus, aninstallation worker can insert their fingers into the edges of the airinlet of the decorative panel, hold temporary hanging levers whilepressing them with their fingers, and temporarily hang the decorativepanel on the case in a stable state. At this time, the worker can holdthe temporary hanging levers in front of their head, and thus thetemporary hanging levers are easily seen during the temporary hanging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit of anair-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a state before the temporary hangingof the temporary hanging lever 8 disposed on the air inlet side surface7 on the indoor unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state where the decorative panel 3 accordingto Embodiment 1 of the present invention is temporarily hung on the case2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the temporary hanging lever 8 and thetemporary hanging hook 9 according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the indoor unit in a state where thedecorative panel 3 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention istemporarily hung on the case 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where a raisable andlowerable electric component box 11 according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention is attached to the decorative panel 3.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a refrigerationcycle apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit of anair-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention. In the following description, the upper side (verticaldirection) in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the upper side, and thelower side in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the lower side. The indoorunit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 isconnected with an outdoor unit by refrigerant pipes and forms arefrigerant circuit that circulates refrigerant and performsrefrigeration, air conditioning, or the like. The indoor unit ofEmbodiment 1 is a ceiling embedded indoor unit, and a four directioncassette type indoor unit will be described as an example thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor unit is installed in an indoor space 1.At this time, a case (cabinet) 2 forming an indoor unit body housing anindoor fan, an indoor heat exchanger, and the like (not shown) isembedded in a ceiling recess of the indoor space. The case 2 has a bellmouth 5 for rectifying air when the indoor fan is driven. The case 2 ofEmbodiment 1 has, on the outside of the bell mouth 5, temporary hanginghooks 9 on which temporary hanging levers 8 of a decorative panel 3described later are hooked to temporarily hang the decorative panel 3.The temporary hanging hooks 9 are formed at positions corresponding tothe temporary hanging levers 8 as described later.

The decorative panel 3 is attached to the lower part of the case 2 tocover the case 2 and to face the indoor side. The central part of thedecorative panel 3 is open in a substantially rectangular shape (squareshape) (to have a rectangular shape). This opening is an air inlet space6 serving as an air inlet through which indoor air is sucked in when theindoor fan is driven. The edges of four sides that surround the opening(define the air inlet space 6) are air inlet side surfaces 7. A suctiongrille 4 covers the air inlet space 6. Air outlets through which airpassing through the indoor heat exchanger is blown out into the roomwhen the indoor fan is driven are provided along the air inlet sidesurfaces 7.

In Embodiment 1, of edges of the four sides that are the air inlet sidesurfaces 7, a pair of sides opposed to one another each have a temporaryhanging lever 8 attached to the air inlet side surface 7 thereof toprotrude into the air inlet space 6. The temporary hanging lever 8 isattached not to a central part of the air inlet side surface 7 (aposition at the midpoint of the side) but to a position slightly shiftedtoward a vertex of the rectangle. The temporary hanging levers 8 areattached to positions opposed to each other on two opposed sides(positions line-symmetric with respect to a line parallel to the twoopposed sides and passing through the center of the air inlet space 6(positions in a mirror-image relationship)). Attaching the temporaryhanging levers 8 to positions shifted from the centers makes thetemporary hanging levers 8 and the temporary hanging hooks 9 easily seenwhen the decorative panel 3 is lifted and temporarily hung on the case2, facilitating the temporary hanging.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a state before the temporary hangingof the temporary hanging lever 8 disposed on the air inlet side surface7 on the indoor unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 2, the temporary hanging lever 8 is formed of, forexample, iron wire. The temporary hanging lever 8 is formed byprocessing iron wire, and has a hook portion 8 a, rotating shaftportions 8 b and 8 c, and an operating portion 8 d. The hook portion 8 ahas a space that enables the hook portion 8 a to be hooked on thetemporary hanging hook 9 of the case 2. In Embodiment 1, the hookportion 8 a is formed in a substantially U-shape. The rotating shaftportions 8 b and 8 c are inserted, utilizing the elasticity of ironwire, into bearing holes 7 a and 7 b formed on the air inlet sidesurface 7. The rotating shaft portions 8 b and 8 c serve as rotatingshafts when the temporary hanging lever 8 turns. The present inventionis not limited to this configuration as long as the temporary hanginglever 8 can be turned. The operating portion 8 d is formed of two piecesof iron wire, and is a part on which a finger (thumb) is placed, forexample, when a person lifts the decorative panel 3 and turns thetemporary hanging lever 8.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state where the decorative panel 3 accordingto Embodiment 1 of the present invention is temporarily hung on the case2. As shown in FIG. 3, the decorative panel 3 has, in the four cornersthereof, installation screw portions 10 for installing and fixing thedecorative panel 3 with screws.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the temporary hanging lever 8 and thetemporary hanging hook 9 according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention. A person applies a force, with their finger, to the operatingportion 8 d of the temporary hanging lever 8 protruding into the airinlet space 6 before the temporary hanging, and the hook portion 8 a isthereby hooked on the temporary hanging hook 9 while the temporaryhanging lever 8 is turned as shown in FIG. 4. At this time, thetemporary hanging lever 8 is caused to get over a protruding portion 7 cof the air inlet side surface 7 utilizing the elasticity of iron wire sothat the protruding portion 7 c prevents the temporary hanging lever 8from turning again toward the air inlet space 6. After the decorativepanel 3 is temporarily hung on the case 2, the decorative panel 3 isfixed with screws to the case 2 through the installation screw portions10 in the four corners of the decorative panel 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the indoor unit in a state where thedecorative panel 3 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention istemporarily hung on the case 2. As described above, the temporaryhanging lever 8 and the temporary hanging hook 9 are disposed atpositions shifted from the central part of the air inlet side surface 7of the decorative panel 3. For example, if a person holds the decorativepanel 3 that is rotated 180 degrees from the correct orientation bymistake when attaching the decorative panel 3 to the case 2, thetemporary hanging levers 8 are not aligned with the temporary hanginghooks 9, and the temporary hanging cannot be performed. Thus, wrongattachment can be prevented.

As described above, according to the indoor unit of the air-conditioningapparatus of Embodiment 1, the temporary hanging levers 8 of which thehook portion 8 a are hooked on the temporary hanging hooks 9 of the case2 to temporarily hang the decorative panel 3 are attached to opposedpositions shifted from midpoints on opposed two sides of the air inletside surfaces 7 on edges of the air inlet formed on the decorative panel3 parallelly toward opposed vertexes. Thus, for example, a worker canhold the edges of the air inlet while pressing the temporary hanginglevers 8 with their thumbs, and temporarily hang the decorative panel 3on the case 2 in a stable state. At this time, the worker can hold thetemporary hanging levers 8 in front of their head, and thus thetemporary hanging levers 8 are easily seen during the temporary hanging.The worker can attach even a square decorative panel 3 such as a fourdirection cassette type without any error in the orientation ofinstallation, for example, without attaching in an orientation rotated180 degrees. Thus, the decorative panel 3 can be easily screwed to thecase.

In the indoor unit of Embodiment 1, in relation to the temporary hanginglevers 8 formed of iron wire to each have a hook portion 8 a, rotatingshaft portions 8 b and 8 c, and an operating portion 8 d, the workerpushes up the operating portions 8 d of the temporary hanging levers 8protruding into the air inlet space 6 with their thumbs or the like toturn the temporary hanging levers 8 so that the hook portions 8 a arehooked on the temporary hanging hooks 9 of the case 2. Thus, thetemporary hanging can be easily performed. By causing the operatingportions 8 d of the temporary hanging levers 8 to get over theprotruding portions 7 c when turning the temporary hanging levers 8, thetemporary hanging levers 8 can be fixed in an upward position,facilitating the temporary hanging.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where a raisable andlowerable electric component box 11 according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention is attached to the decorative panel 3. In FIG. 6, theraisable and lowerable electric component box 11 is a box (case) thathouses electric components (not shown) such as a drive circuit fordriving a fan or the like of the indoor unit. For example, by detachingthe suction grille 4 and turning the raisable and lowerable electriccomponent box 11, the electric components can be raised and loweredtogether with the box.

Although, in the above-described Embodiment 1, attaching the temporaryhanging lever 8 to a position shifted from the central part of the sidetoward a vertex has been described, the direction of shifting is notparticularly limited. For example, the center of gravity, which isnormally at substantially the center of the air inlet, moves forwardwhen the raisable and lowerable electric component box 11 is attached tothe decorative panel 3.

In Embodiment 2, the temporary hanging lever 8 is shifted toward aposition on which the raisable and lowerable electric component box 11is installed. The raisable and lowerable electric component box 11 islocated on the position in front of the worker, and thus the worker canstably lift the decorative panel 3 on which the raisable and lowerableelectric component box 11 is installed.

For example, when the raisable and lowerable electric component box 11is attached to an air inlet side surface 7, the position of the centerof gravity of the decorative panel 3 shifts from the center to the sideof the position where the raisable and lowerable electric component box11 is attached. However, if the temporary hanging levers 8 are disposedon the positions shifted from the center of the air inlet space 6 towardthe position on which the raisable and lowerable electric component box11 is installed, the temporary hanging can be performed such that thebalance of the decorative panel 3 is kept even when the decorative panel3 is lifted and the temporary hanging levers 8 are hooked on thetemporary hanging hooks 9 of the case 2.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a refrigerationcycle apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. InFIG. 7, an air-conditioning apparatus is shown as a refrigeration cycleapparatus. In the air-conditioning apparatus of FIG. 7, an outdoor unit300 and the indoor unit 200 described in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2are connected by a gas refrigerant pipe 400 and a liquid refrigerantpipe 500. The outdoor unit 300 includes a compressor 311, a four-wayvalve 312, an outdoor heat exchanger 313, and an expansion valve 314.

The compressor 311 compresses and discharges sucked refrigerant.Although the invention is not particularly limited, the compressor 311may have a capability of varying the capacity (the amount of refrigerantfed per unit time) by arbitrarily varying the operating frequency, forexample, with an inverter circuit. The four-way valve 312 is a valve forswitching the flow of refrigerant, for example, between the flow for acooling operation and the flow for a heating operation.

The outdoor heat exchanger 313 exchanges heat between refrigerant andair (outdoor air). For example, during the heating operation, theoutdoor heat exchanger 313 functions as an evaporator, and evaporatesand gasifies refrigerant. During the cooling operation, the outdoor heatexchanger 313 functions as a condenser, and condenses and liquefiesrefrigerant.

The expansion valve 314 of an expansion device (flow rate control unit)or the like decompresses and expands refrigerant. For example, when theexpansion valve 314 is an electronic expansion valve or the like, theopening degree is adjusted based on the instruction of a control unit(not shown) or the like.

The indoor heat exchanger 211 of the indoor unit 200 exchanges heat, forexample, between air in the indoor space 1 and refrigerant. During theheating operation, the indoor heat exchanger 211 functions as acondenser, and condenses and liquefies refrigerant. During the coolingoperation, the indoor heat exchanger 211 functions as an evaporator, andevaporates and gasifies refrigerant.

First, the cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus willbe described based on the flow of refrigerant. In the cooling operation,the four-way valve 312 is switched to establish a connectionrelationship shown by solid lines. High-temperature high-pressure gasrefrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 311 passesthrough the four-way valve 312 and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger313. Then, the refrigerant condensed and liquefied by passing throughthe outdoor heat exchanger 313 and exchanging heat with the outdoor air(liquid refrigerant) flows into the expansion valve 314. The refrigerantbrought into a two-phase gas-liquid state by being decompressed by theexpansion valve 314 flows out of the outdoor unit 300.

The two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor unit 300flows through the liquid refrigerant pipe 500 into the indoor unit 200,and passes through the indoor heat exchanger 211. The refrigerantevaporated and gasified by exchanging heat, for example, with the air inthe indoor space 1 (gas refrigerant) flows out of the indoor unit 200.

The gas refrigerant flowing out of the indoor unit 200 flows through thegas refrigerant pipe 400 into the outdoor unit 300. The refrigerant thenpasses through the four-way valve 312 and is sucked into the compressor311 again. As described above, the refrigerant of the air-conditioningapparatus is circulated and air-conditioning (cooling) is performed.

Next, the heating operation will be described based on the flow ofrefrigerant. In the heating operation, the four-way valve 312 isswitched to establish a connection relationship shown by dotted lines.High-temperature high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and dischargedby the compressor 311 passes through the four-way valve 312 and flowsout of the outdoor unit 300. The gas refrigerant flowing out of theoutdoor unit 300 flows through the gas refrigerant pipe 400 into theindoor unit 200. The refrigerant condensed and liquefied by exchangingheat, for example, with air in the indoor space 1 while passing throughthe indoor heat exchanger 211 flows out of the indoor unit 200.

The refrigerant flowing out of the indoor unit 200 flows through theliquid refrigerant pipe 500 into the outdoor unit 300. The refrigerantbrought into a two-phase gas-liquid state by being decompressed by theexpansion valve 314 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 313. Then, therefrigerant evaporated and gasified by passing through the outdoor heatexchanger 313 and exchanging heat with the outdoor air (gas refrigerant)passes through the four-way valve 312 and is sucked into the compressor311 again. Thus, the refrigerant of the air-conditioning apparatus iscirculated and air-conditioning (heating) is performed.

As described above, the air-conditioning apparatus (refrigeration cycleapparatus) of Embodiment 3 achieves the same advantageous effects asthose of Embodiments 1 and 2 by employing the indoor unit 200 describedin Embodiments 1 and 2 to form the configuration.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Although, in the above-described Embodiments 1 to 3, a four directioncassette type ceiling embedded indoor unit that blows out air in fourdirections has been described, the technique herein can also be appliedto indoor units that blow out air, for example, in two directions andthree directions.

Although, in the above-described Embodiments 1 to 3, an air-conditioningapparatus has been described as an example of a refrigeration cycleapparatus, the technique herein can also be applied, for example, to arefrigerating apparatus or the like that is another refrigerating cycleapparatus. The technique herein can be applied not only to refrigerationcycle apparatus but also, for example, to a ventilation apparatus.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1 indoor space 2 case 3 decorative panel 4 suction grille 5 bell        mouth 6 air inlet space 7 air inlet side surface 7 a, 7 b        bearing hole 7 c protruding portion 8 temporary hanging lever 8        a hook portion 8 b, 8 c rotating shaft portion 8 d operating        portion 9 temporary hanging hook 10 installation screw portion        11 raisable and lowerable electric component box 200 indoor unit        211 indoor heat exchanger 300 outdoor unit 311 compressor 312        four-way valve 313 outdoor heat exchanger 314 expansion valve        400 gas refrigerant pipe 500 liquid refrigerant pipe

1. An indoor unit comprising: a case having an opening part on a lowersurface thereof when the indoor unit is installed; and a decorativepanel having a rectangular air inlet being open to the opening part ofthe case, the decorative panel being attached to the lower surface ofthe case, the decorative panel having temporary hanging levers attachedto opposed positions shifted from midpoints on any opposed two of foursides on edges of the air inlet parallelly toward any opposed vertexes,the case having temporary hanging hooks corresponding to the temporaryhanging levers on edges of the opening part.
 2. The indoor unit of claim1, wherein the temporary hanging levers each have a hook portion hookedon one of the temporary hanging hooks, and an operating portion on whicha finger can be placed to turn the hook portion.
 3. The indoor unit ofclaim 2, further comprising protruding portions for catching the turnedtemporary hanging levers, on the edges of the air inlet.
 4. The indoorunit of claim 1, wherein the temporary hanging levers are attached toopposed positions shifted toward opposed vertexes close to a position ofthe decorative panel to which an electric component box is attached. 5.The indoor unit of claim 1, wherein, after the temporary hanging leversare hooked on the temporary hanging hooks, the case and the decorativepanel are fixed with screws.
 6. A refrigeration cycle apparatuscomprising: the indoor unit of claim 1; and an outdoor unit, therefrigeration cycle apparatus having a refrigerant circuit connecting,by pipes, a compressor compressing and discharging refrigerant, acondenser condensing the refrigerant by heat exchange, an expansiondevice decompressing the condensed refrigerant, and an evaporatorexchanging heat between the decompressed refrigerant and air.